9 January 2018

ARE YOU WILLING TO CONSIDER CHANGE ?????

By John Ollis

Our Pastor began a series of sermons on Sunday about CHANGE,he believes (and so do I)that 2018 will be a YEAR OF CHANGE. both:
PERSONALLY
NATIONALLY and INTERNATIONALLY
IN THE CHURCH (BOTH LOCALLY & INTERNATIONALLY)
Why do people resist and almost hate change?  I don’t often seek the world’s answer to this question, but came across this Harvard Business Review article on 10 REASONS PEOPLE RESIST CHANGE.
1 Loss of control
2. Excess uncertainty
3. Surprise, surprise
4. Everything seems different
5. Loss of face
6. Concerns about competence
7. More work
8. Ripple effects
9. Past resentments
10. Sometimes the threat is real
These reasons are quite self explanatory so I am not going to add or see the need  to develop the points, other than to say, that personally and church wise every one seems very relevant. So we are confronted and challenged with the need of change.NOW
Our Pastor used an acrostic to spell out areas that need to be considered
Christ centred lives
Holy Spirit directed
 A Attitudes that are open to learning and or change
Serving the needy
G God is love
E Evangelism at our core
I like these 6 points and will develop them from my perspective over the next few days.
Only about six months ago I had an eye test as I was not comfortable with my vision. Within weeks of getting my new glasses again I was having trouble with my vision, I could not clearly read the small print at the bottom of the tv screen, and worse still as I was driving I started to feel that the  oncoming traffic was in my lane. I should have gone back and the lenses would have been changed, but unwisely decided to persevere.  I decided last week I must go and get my sight checked again, and after the test the Optometrist showed me what my current lenses gave me and then what I need to have, the difference in my perspective was dramatically different. I cannot wait to pick up my new glasses on Friday. In this case I was aware of the need of change, so many Believers and churches  are not aware of the need for change, and consequently resist, and fight change. What is your perspective about yourself and your walk with God, and where your local church at,    at this time.
None of us know either personally, or churchwise, or politically both Nationally and Internationally what 2018 holds. We must be prepared for and be open to change, not change just for change sake, but change, that makes us the person God wants us to be, and for every local church, to assess itself afresh and seek to build “according to the pattern of the Word of God” knowing that by doing this we will see the glory of God.
I conclude today with this statement i saw recently.

YOUR LIFE DOES NOT GET BETTER BY CHANCE, IT GETS BETTER BY CHANGE